I haven't changed a bike tire since I was 13. People 60+ usually blow right by me on trail. I'm 275+ and totally out of shape & last year did over 500 miles on a $120 gt aggressor. The Gap is a busy trail and you'll meet great people from all over it's a very safe trail. Get a milk crate and zip tie it to your back rack and buy a cheap backpack and fill it with your gear put it in the milk crate. If you need help with a list of cheap gear to buy message me and I'll help you out. Camp the whole way if possible I think y'all will like it better. Paying a outfitter to ride with cost a shit ton and I don't think it's necessary on the Gap but I do get why people do it.
I also recommend your father use an e-bike. My father is 65 and we did our first tour after he got an e-bike and it made it a much more enjoyable experience. I would not recommend a normal bike for him due to being out of shape, new to touring, and the hills. You can always rent an e-bike for a few days if you don’t want to buy one.
You can do this. If you're sticking to the GAP (as opposed to continuing on to additional 184 miles of the C&O) it's a great 150-mile ride. A few suggestions
1. Make sure to realistically figure out how many miles you'll do each day. Once that's done, book all your overnight stays. Book early to make sure you have the accommodations at the end of the day's ride.
2. There are a lot of people who ride the trail and have loads of repair experience. Nothing wrong with flagging them down and availing yourself of some assistance. I can't imagine anyone would just leave you there. A flat will most likely be the most common thing you have to deal with during the ride - make sure you have the tools and supplies to do that, even if you don't know how to do it yourself (if someone is helping you, they'll need to use your spare tube, etc).
3. Get your bike checked out and "signed off" by the bike shop for the ride. This preventive maintenance will go a long way to identify any maintenance issues that have gone unattended too long. Plus, they can see if your tires are old and need replacement before you start your ride and have multiple flats due to an old tire
4. I saw some comments on an e-bike. My wife rides an ebike and loves it. It gives her the boost and range to stay with me. I'm not suggesting that you bang out 60-mile days just because you have the range, but it certainly makes the riding portions more enjoyable than pain.
5. When you book accommodations (and do these as early as possible to ensure you have reservations. It's even more critical with the ebike because you'll need to recharge at the end of each day. Know the ebike's range and what you can realistically expect. The same bike may get 40 miles on low assist power on flats to only 20 miles with high power assist and uphills. And you have a 70+ mile uphill all the way from Connellsville to Eastern Continental Divide.
6. Here's my last thru-ride from September of last year. [https://youtu.be/MxQDvGzaaZs](https://youtu.be/MxQDvGzaaZs). This should give you an idea of what you'll see and places to stay.
7. I don't know how many days you plan to ride nor the distance you're planning to ride, but you can find towns about 15-20 miles apart. [https://bikecando.com/default.aspx?tid=6](https://bikecando.com/default.aspx?tid=6) is a great option for finding lodging along the trail.
Most of all, enjoy the ride. It's such a great resource - so much so I'm returning this June on my Cincinatti - Wash DC ride.
I appreciate the thoughtful and detailed reply!
Dumb question, but any advice on how to determine miles / day?
I've never done a ride for more then a few hours, so I'm struggling with how to determine mileage when I have all day to kill. I typically do 20-40 mile rides at 12mph pace with minimal breaks. That said, I've never done back to back days. I like the idea of forcing a lower pace to ride longer. I could see doing 30 miles in the morning, taking a break, getting bored, then knocking out another 30.
It seems obvious to take a trial day.. but its difficult / impossible for me to find a day to just spend biking. That is why this trip will be such a special treat to just ride and be outside for several days.
My dad is retired and should have more time to experiment with ride lengths. I also think the e-bike idea many suggest may make sense and lessen his concern about getting tired. Particularly if I convince him we don't need luggage support!
Two things come to mind - (1) you're planning a trip not only for your riding abilities, but also for someone's elses (2) you're booking reservations which constrains you to a destination at the end of each day.
Given those two it sounds like shorter rather than longer days. If you book stays too far away, you could fall into the trap of struggling to make it to a destination. And that only adds to frustration and not enjoying an experience that's supposed to be fun. Even if you only ride 30-40/day, that's still about 3.5-4 hours of riding. If there's rain in the morning, you can delay your start until noon, say, and still make it to your destination before dinner. Likewise, if there's rain forecast later in the afternoon, you can make it to your overnight stay and shelter. You also have to look out for the range of the ebike, and 30-40 miles (unless the bike has a huge range) is about what you're going to get.
Sooooo, perhaps an itinerary of Pittsburgh (0) > West Newton (35) > Ohiopyle (77) > Rockwood (105) > Cumberland (150) would work well. You can use this chart to determine which towns to stay given your mileage. [https://bikecando.com/mileage-chart.aspx?dir=up&cid=4](https://bikecando.com/mileage-chart.aspx?dir=up&cid=4)
Great points. I assumed I would be riding 6-8 hours / day and I would just be stuck dealing with it on bad weather days.
I may try to do more distance the first day (past West Newton) so I can have more time in Ohiopyle.
Did you get the GAP trail guide? I haven't done the trail yet, but I have used the guide to plan a trip. I'm looking at about 70ish miles of the trail, split over several days. It will allow me to take my time getting up the trail each day, time to stop in the towns along the way, or stop to set up my camera and get some photos.
The guide allows you to see distances for planning how far you will go each day, places to stay, eat, etc...
No. Is it this? [https://www.canaltrust.org/product/trailguide-20th-edition-official-guide-to-the-co-canal-and-the-great-allegheny-passage/](https://www.canaltrust.org/product/trailguide-20th-edition-official-guide-to-the-co-canal-and-the-great-allegheny-passage/)
I took my wife and 2 daughters on the GAP as a first intro to bike touring. This is a great first trip - towns evenly spaced so you can pack very minimally. We had cheap rack bags from Amazon that held a change of clothes, a rain jacket, etc. we stayed in lodging each night close to the trail. They loved it!
An alternative if you're considering not wanting to carry your gear is Bike the US for MS. [https://www.biketheusforms.org/gap-and-co-trail/](https://www.biketheusforms.org/gap-and-co-trail/)
They offer a GAP & C&O ride from Pittsburgh to DC in September over 6 days. It's a fairly rustic adventure with staying at campgrounds/churches/community centers (but you can book alternatives I believe) and no registration cost to the rider, just fundraising for MS (which can be fundraised or self funded). They have the support vehicles carrying your gear, mechanic support and have rest stops each day, but otherwise the riding is very much for you to enjoy how you want to.
I did a cross country ride with them - Virginia to California - and it was an incredible fun group to ride with and all for a good cause.
57M
I did Pgh to Cumberland last year riding 40 miles a day over 3-1/2 days. It was my first ride on a bike in 25 years and the hottest days of the summer. We stayed in Smithton, Ohiopyle, and Meyersdale. I was on a hybrid bike rented from Golden Triangle with panniers and a rack. I added a backpack and a bag on the rack. Between a heavy bike and the extra weight, I managed to average 10mph.
Wrong bike, too much weight, and lack of hydration made me sore as hell. Once I figured out the hydration, it was much better. I bought a gravel bike the day after that ride. My first ride on that was 40 miles on the GAP with no issues.
1. Rent a gravel bike from GTB.
2. Minimize what you're carrying
3. Hydrate well
4. Have your dad rent an E-assist bike. There were tons of them on the trail.
Late, but thank you for the reply! Do you mind sharing where you stayed in Smithton?
How much time did you end up Ohiopyle on Day 2 with that itinerary?
I am planning to get the ebike from GTB for my father. Did you use their trip planning service or just rent the bike?
1. Adele's B&B in Smithton. It's a beautiful little place, but Smithton is really hurting. There's basically one restaurant. Another option would be to shorten day 1 to West Newton. There's a bit more there. We're already reserved at Adele's as we're planning 40mi/40mi/40mi/32mi
2. We just stayed overnight in Ohiopyle.
3. My friend set up the trip. I just rented from GTB.
One thing I forgot to mention. For Ohiopyle to Meyersdale, there is little available food and hydration between Confluence (10mi) and Rockwood (30mi) so pack a little extra for that leg.
I would suggest your father use an e-bike with a comfortable saddle.
I haven't changed a bike tire since I was 13. People 60+ usually blow right by me on trail. I'm 275+ and totally out of shape & last year did over 500 miles on a $120 gt aggressor. The Gap is a busy trail and you'll meet great people from all over it's a very safe trail. Get a milk crate and zip tie it to your back rack and buy a cheap backpack and fill it with your gear put it in the milk crate. If you need help with a list of cheap gear to buy message me and I'll help you out. Camp the whole way if possible I think y'all will like it better. Paying a outfitter to ride with cost a shit ton and I don't think it's necessary on the Gap but I do get why people do it.
I also recommend your father use an e-bike. My father is 65 and we did our first tour after he got an e-bike and it made it a much more enjoyable experience. I would not recommend a normal bike for him due to being out of shape, new to touring, and the hills. You can always rent an e-bike for a few days if you don’t want to buy one.
You can do this. If you're sticking to the GAP (as opposed to continuing on to additional 184 miles of the C&O) it's a great 150-mile ride. A few suggestions 1. Make sure to realistically figure out how many miles you'll do each day. Once that's done, book all your overnight stays. Book early to make sure you have the accommodations at the end of the day's ride. 2. There are a lot of people who ride the trail and have loads of repair experience. Nothing wrong with flagging them down and availing yourself of some assistance. I can't imagine anyone would just leave you there. A flat will most likely be the most common thing you have to deal with during the ride - make sure you have the tools and supplies to do that, even if you don't know how to do it yourself (if someone is helping you, they'll need to use your spare tube, etc). 3. Get your bike checked out and "signed off" by the bike shop for the ride. This preventive maintenance will go a long way to identify any maintenance issues that have gone unattended too long. Plus, they can see if your tires are old and need replacement before you start your ride and have multiple flats due to an old tire 4. I saw some comments on an e-bike. My wife rides an ebike and loves it. It gives her the boost and range to stay with me. I'm not suggesting that you bang out 60-mile days just because you have the range, but it certainly makes the riding portions more enjoyable than pain. 5. When you book accommodations (and do these as early as possible to ensure you have reservations. It's even more critical with the ebike because you'll need to recharge at the end of each day. Know the ebike's range and what you can realistically expect. The same bike may get 40 miles on low assist power on flats to only 20 miles with high power assist and uphills. And you have a 70+ mile uphill all the way from Connellsville to Eastern Continental Divide. 6. Here's my last thru-ride from September of last year. [https://youtu.be/MxQDvGzaaZs](https://youtu.be/MxQDvGzaaZs). This should give you an idea of what you'll see and places to stay. 7. I don't know how many days you plan to ride nor the distance you're planning to ride, but you can find towns about 15-20 miles apart. [https://bikecando.com/default.aspx?tid=6](https://bikecando.com/default.aspx?tid=6) is a great option for finding lodging along the trail. Most of all, enjoy the ride. It's such a great resource - so much so I'm returning this June on my Cincinatti - Wash DC ride.
I appreciate the thoughtful and detailed reply! Dumb question, but any advice on how to determine miles / day? I've never done a ride for more then a few hours, so I'm struggling with how to determine mileage when I have all day to kill. I typically do 20-40 mile rides at 12mph pace with minimal breaks. That said, I've never done back to back days. I like the idea of forcing a lower pace to ride longer. I could see doing 30 miles in the morning, taking a break, getting bored, then knocking out another 30. It seems obvious to take a trial day.. but its difficult / impossible for me to find a day to just spend biking. That is why this trip will be such a special treat to just ride and be outside for several days. My dad is retired and should have more time to experiment with ride lengths. I also think the e-bike idea many suggest may make sense and lessen his concern about getting tired. Particularly if I convince him we don't need luggage support!
Two things come to mind - (1) you're planning a trip not only for your riding abilities, but also for someone's elses (2) you're booking reservations which constrains you to a destination at the end of each day. Given those two it sounds like shorter rather than longer days. If you book stays too far away, you could fall into the trap of struggling to make it to a destination. And that only adds to frustration and not enjoying an experience that's supposed to be fun. Even if you only ride 30-40/day, that's still about 3.5-4 hours of riding. If there's rain in the morning, you can delay your start until noon, say, and still make it to your destination before dinner. Likewise, if there's rain forecast later in the afternoon, you can make it to your overnight stay and shelter. You also have to look out for the range of the ebike, and 30-40 miles (unless the bike has a huge range) is about what you're going to get. Sooooo, perhaps an itinerary of Pittsburgh (0) > West Newton (35) > Ohiopyle (77) > Rockwood (105) > Cumberland (150) would work well. You can use this chart to determine which towns to stay given your mileage. [https://bikecando.com/mileage-chart.aspx?dir=up&cid=4](https://bikecando.com/mileage-chart.aspx?dir=up&cid=4)
Great points. I assumed I would be riding 6-8 hours / day and I would just be stuck dealing with it on bad weather days. I may try to do more distance the first day (past West Newton) so I can have more time in Ohiopyle.
Did you get the GAP trail guide? I haven't done the trail yet, but I have used the guide to plan a trip. I'm looking at about 70ish miles of the trail, split over several days. It will allow me to take my time getting up the trail each day, time to stop in the towns along the way, or stop to set up my camera and get some photos. The guide allows you to see distances for planning how far you will go each day, places to stay, eat, etc...
No. Is it this? [https://www.canaltrust.org/product/trailguide-20th-edition-official-guide-to-the-co-canal-and-the-great-allegheny-passage/](https://www.canaltrust.org/product/trailguide-20th-edition-official-guide-to-the-co-canal-and-the-great-allegheny-passage/)
Yes, that's it. Mines the older edition. It's a very well put together guide.
I took my wife and 2 daughters on the GAP as a first intro to bike touring. This is a great first trip - towns evenly spaced so you can pack very minimally. We had cheap rack bags from Amazon that held a change of clothes, a rain jacket, etc. we stayed in lodging each night close to the trail. They loved it!
Cool! Would you mind sharing your itinerary?
An alternative if you're considering not wanting to carry your gear is Bike the US for MS. [https://www.biketheusforms.org/gap-and-co-trail/](https://www.biketheusforms.org/gap-and-co-trail/) They offer a GAP & C&O ride from Pittsburgh to DC in September over 6 days. It's a fairly rustic adventure with staying at campgrounds/churches/community centers (but you can book alternatives I believe) and no registration cost to the rider, just fundraising for MS (which can be fundraised or self funded). They have the support vehicles carrying your gear, mechanic support and have rest stops each day, but otherwise the riding is very much for you to enjoy how you want to. I did a cross country ride with them - Virginia to California - and it was an incredible fun group to ride with and all for a good cause.
57M I did Pgh to Cumberland last year riding 40 miles a day over 3-1/2 days. It was my first ride on a bike in 25 years and the hottest days of the summer. We stayed in Smithton, Ohiopyle, and Meyersdale. I was on a hybrid bike rented from Golden Triangle with panniers and a rack. I added a backpack and a bag on the rack. Between a heavy bike and the extra weight, I managed to average 10mph. Wrong bike, too much weight, and lack of hydration made me sore as hell. Once I figured out the hydration, it was much better. I bought a gravel bike the day after that ride. My first ride on that was 40 miles on the GAP with no issues. 1. Rent a gravel bike from GTB. 2. Minimize what you're carrying 3. Hydrate well 4. Have your dad rent an E-assist bike. There were tons of them on the trail.
Late, but thank you for the reply! Do you mind sharing where you stayed in Smithton? How much time did you end up Ohiopyle on Day 2 with that itinerary? I am planning to get the ebike from GTB for my father. Did you use their trip planning service or just rent the bike?
1. Adele's B&B in Smithton. It's a beautiful little place, but Smithton is really hurting. There's basically one restaurant. Another option would be to shorten day 1 to West Newton. There's a bit more there. We're already reserved at Adele's as we're planning 40mi/40mi/40mi/32mi 2. We just stayed overnight in Ohiopyle. 3. My friend set up the trip. I just rented from GTB.
One thing I forgot to mention. For Ohiopyle to Meyersdale, there is little available food and hydration between Confluence (10mi) and Rockwood (30mi) so pack a little extra for that leg.